EDITORIAL
From The Publisher’s Desk...
NBA = INDENTURED SERVITUDE
No wonder Donald Sterling acts like a Master
As I watch all of the coverage of the incident with Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling, it has confirmed what I have felt for
years…the NBA is a system of Indentured Servitude.
Let me explain.
ROBERT LAWSON
1940- 2014
Your Photos Are Worth a 1,000
Words
Way to get out of the ‘hood
Indentured Servitude was a voluntary labor system whereby young people paid for their free passage to the New World by
working for an employer for a certain number of years. Most of the young black basketball players that I have heard being
interviewed say that the NBA is their way to a better world than the one in which they were raised; even if they only play for a
few years.
Bought & Paid For
The employer purchased the indenture servant from the sea captain who brought the youths over; he did so because he
needed labor. The NBA team owners (employer) secure their players from agents for a price. The only real wealth is held by
the owner, not the player.
NBA Combine
Potential NBA players attend what is known as a Combine where tests are performed for strength, power, speed, agility and
body size. The owners use the results of these tests to determine the player’s potential to get the job done. Similar tests
were performed to ensure the Indentured Servant could perform the tasks at hand.
Trade
Owners have the authority to trade the worker to another owner at will. This breaks up families and takes a toll on the
player’s lives. This refers to both the NBA and Indentured Servitude.
Prepared for Future
Players or workers leave the plantation after their contracts are satisfied. The workers that learned to read have a better
chance at life after being released from their contract. Those workers (players) that don’t learn to read have a hard time
surviving…Sound familiar?
This system/process has been allowed to go on for years. Sterling did not say anything that the players have not heard or,
at the least, his actions were no different than what has been accepted for years. For the opportunity to play in the NBA,
players would overlook a lot of things. And most will continue to overlook the actions of the League, owners, etc. just for a
chance to get on that Plantation.
MAYA ANGELOU
1928 - 2014
A Phenomenal Woman
From where I sit, Sterling is not the only one that needs to change his mentality.
To God Be The Glory!
Sincerely,
Phyllis Coley
[email protected]
www.spectacularmag.com | June 2014 | SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE
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